Posted by Rita on April 22, 2000 at 21:13:50:
In Reply to: Disgusting posted by Linnette on April 22, 2000 at 03:56:54:
I received this email recently and thought it might prove to be interesting reading here.
> > Subject: A Father's thoughts
> > Date: Monday, 24 Jan 2000 07:31:40 PST
> >
> > On Thursday, May 27, 1999, Darrell Scott, the father of Rachel
> > Scott, a victim of the Columbine High School Shootings in
> > Littleton, Colorado, was invited to address the House Judiciary
> > Committee's sub-committee. What he said to our national leaders
> > during this special session of Congress was painfully truthful.
> > It needs to be heard by every parent, every teacher, every
> > politician, every sociologist, every psychologist, and every
> > so-called expert! These courageous words spoken by Darrell Scott
> > are powerful, penetrating, and deeply personal. There is no doubt
> > that God sent this man as a voice crying in the wilderness. The
> > following is a portion of the transcript:
> >
> > Since the dawn of creation there has been both good & evil in the
> > hearts of men and women. We all contain the seeds of kindness or
> > the seeds of violence. The death of my wonderful daughter, Rachel
> > Joy Scott, and the deaths of that heroic teacher, and the other
> > eleven children who died must not be in vain. Their blood cries
> > out for answers. The first recorded act of violence was when Cain
> > slew his brother Abel out in the field. The villain was not the
> > club he used. Neither was it the NCA, the National Club Association.
> > The true killer was Cain, and the reason for the murder could
> > only be found in Cain's heart.
> >
> > In the days that followed the Columbine tragedy, I was amazed at
> > how quickly fingers began to be pointed at groups such as the NRA.
> > I am not a member of the NRA. I am not a hunter. I do not even
> > own a gun. I am not here to represent or defend the NRA because I
> > don't believe that they are responsible for my daughter's death.
> > Therefore I do not believe that they need to be defended. If I
> > believed they had anything to do with Rachel's murder I would be
> > their strongest opponent. I am here today to declare that Columbine
> > was not just a tragedy - it was a spiritual event that should be
> > forcing us to look at where the real blame lies! Much of the blame
> > lies here in this room. Much of the blame lies behind the pointing
> > fingers of the accusers themselves. I wrote a poem just four nights
> > ago that expresses my feelings best. This was written way before I
> > knew I would be speaking here today.
> >
> > Your laws ignore our deepest needs
> > Your words are empty air
> > You've stripped away our heritage
> > You've outlawed simple prayer
> > Now gunshots fill our classrooms
> > And precious children die
> > You seek for answers everywhere
> > And ask the question "Why"
> > You regulate restrictive laws
> > Through legislative creed
> > And yet you fail to understand
> > That God is what we need!
> > Men and women are three-part beings.
> > We all consist of body, soul, and spirit.
> >
> > When we refuse to acknowledge a third part of our make-up, we
> > create a void that allows evil, prejudice, and hatred to rush in
> > and wreak havoc. Spiritual influences were present within our
> > educational systems for most of our nation's history. Many of
> > our major colleges began as theological seminaries. This is an
> > historical fact. What has happened to us as a nation? We have
> > refused to honor God, and in doing so, we open the doors to hatred
> > and violence. And when something as terrible as Columbine's tragedy
> > occurs - politicians immediately look for a scapegoat such as the
> > NRA. They immediately seek to pass more restrictive laws that
> > contribute to erode away our personal and private liberties. We do
> > not need more restrictive laws. Eric and Dylan would not have been
> > stopped by metal detectors. No amount of gun laws can stop someone
> > who spends months planning this type of massacre. The real villain
> > lies within our own hearts. Political posturing and restrictive
> > legislation are not the answers.
> >
> > The young people of our nation hold the key. There is a spiritual
> > awakening taking place that will not be squelched! We do not need
> > more religion. We do not need more gaudy television evangelists
> > spewing out verbal religious garbage. We do not need more million
> > dollar church buildings built while people with basic needs are
> > being ignored. We do need a change of heart and a humble
> > acknowledgment that this nation was founded on the principle of
> > simple trust in God!
> >
> > As my son Craig lay under that table in the school library and saw
> > his two friends murdered before his very eyes - he did not hesitate
> > to pray in school. I defy any law or politician to deny him that
> > right! I challenge every young person in America, and around the
> > world, to realize that on April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School -
> > prayer was brought back to our schools. Do not let the many prayers
> > offered by those students be in vain. Dare to move into the new
> > millennium with a sacred disregard for legislation that violates
> > your God-given right to communicate with Him. To those of you who
> > would point your finger at the NRA - I give to you a sincere
> > challenge. Dare to examine your own heart before casting the
> > first stone! My daughter's death will not be in vain. The young
> > people of this country will not allow that to happen!
>*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
> > "There's a difference between interest and commitment.
> > When you're interested in doing something, you do it only
> > when it's convenient. When you're committed to something,
> > you accept no excuses -- only results."
> >
> > -- Ken Blanchard